106
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
supposedly vs. supposably
A good question today from Adam Kempenaar of Frank N. Magid
Associates, a question that required some research by Mrs. B:
"What's the difference between 'supposedly' and 'supposably'?"
"Supposedly" (spelled with an "e") means "as some people believe"
or "as people were led to believe."
It's the adverb for "supposed."
v
SUPPOSEDLY, she was going to write the tease before she left.
"Supposably" (spelled with an "a" instead of an "e") means
"arguably." It's the adverb for "supposable," which means
"conceivable" or "presumable."
Brian Garner gives this example of its adjective form being used in
his A Dictionary of Modern Usage:
v
He learns more about himself and the SUPPOSABLE dimension
of man's future.
(from "A Sequel to The Celestine Prophecy" by Dick Richmond in
the St.Louis Post-Dispatch, May 16, 1996)
The problem is that many confuse the two suppose-based adverbs
and pronounce "supposedly" as "supposebly."
Please don't let one of those many be you.
Remember, if it has an "e" in it, the word is pronounced su-PO-zid-
lee (not su-PO-ziB-lee).
